Description
A festive cheese ball made with cream cheese, cheddar, feta, and a mix of crunchy pecans and sweet cranberries, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled feta cheese, green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Fold in the chopped pecans and dried cranberries until evenly distributed throughout the cheese mixture.
- Using your hands, shape the mixture into a ball. Wrap the cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the cheese to firm up.
- Once chilled, remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and roll it in additional chopped pecans to coat the outside.
- Transfer the cheese ball to a serving platter and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with crackers, sliced baguette, or fresh vegetables.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce to the cheese mixture.
- Substitute the pecans with walnuts or almonds for a different flavor profile, or use sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mixing and Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 40mg